Student Code of Conduct

These policies and procedures are reprinted from the AVC Board Policies, Section 6032.

Definition
Good cause includes, but is not limited to, the following offenses:

Academic Violations

Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy: Dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating, or plagiarism. Plagiarism–from the Latin word for “kidnap”–involves using another’s work without giving proper credit, whether done accidentally or on purpose. This includes not only words and ideas, but also graphs, artwork, music, maps, statistics, diagrams, scientific data, software, films, videos and the like.

Plagiarism is plagiarism whether the material is from published or unpublished sources. It does not matter whether ideas are stolen, bought, downloaded from the Internet, or written for the student by someone else–it is still plagiarism. Even if only bits and pieces of other sources are used, or outside sources reworded, they must still be cited.

To avoid problems, students should cite any source(s) and check with the instructor before submitting an assignment or project. Students are always responsible for any plagiarism in their work.

An instructor who determines that a student has cheated or plagiarized has the right to give an “F” grade, or numerical equivalent, for the assignment or examination. AVC reserves the right to utilize electronic means to investigate possible academic violations. Enrollment in any class implies student agreement and consent that all assignments are subject to submission for textual similarity review to an electronic database.

Violation of class assignments, examination rules, e.g., communicating or transferring information to another student, using any materials such as books, notes, etc., other than those expressly allowed for the exam, looking at another student’s exam, etc.

General College Violations

Forgery, alteration, or misuse of college documents, records, identification, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college. Abuse of and/or tampering with the registration process.

Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other college activities, including, but not limited to, its community service functions, or of other authorized activities on
college premises.

Unauthorized entry into or use of college supplies, equipment, and or facilities.

Violation of college policies or of campus regulations including, but not limited to, campus regulations concerning student organizations, the use of college facilities, or the time, place, and manner of public expression, library procedures, college bills, debts, and parking.

Theft of or damage to property of the college, or of a member of the college community, or campus visitor.

Use of personal portable sound amplification equipment and other electronic devices (radios, cell telephones, pagers, and tape players, etc.) in a manner that disturbs the privacy of other individuals and/or the programs of the college.

Computer Usage Violations

Theft or abuse of computer time, including, but not limited to:

Unauthorized entry into a file, database, or computer to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose.

Unauthorized transfer of a file.

Unauthorized use of another person’s identification and password.

Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or college official.

Use of computing facilities to send obscene or abusive messages, or to defame or intentionally harm other persons.

Use of computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the college computing system.

Use of computing facilities for student’s personal benefit.

Violation of applicable AVC “Computer Use Guidelines.”

Behavior Violations

Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct on college-owned or controlled property, or at college sponsored or supervised functions.

Assault, battery, or verbal abuse or conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of a student, college personnel, or campus visitor.

Hazing or any act that injures, degrades, or disgraces or tends to injure, degrade, or disgrace any student, college personnel, or campus visitor.

Gambling on District property.

Failure to identify oneself when on college property or at a college-sponsored or supervised event, upon the request of a college official acting in the performance of their duties.

Actions which result in injury or death of a student, college personnel, or campus visitor, or damage to property owned by the district.

Failure to comply with directions of college officials acting in the performance of their duties, open and persistent defiance of the authority of college personnel, or persistent, serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct.

Unauthorized entry on the campus or into the facility to which access has been denied after suspension or dismissal, during the suspension period. (CA Penal Code 626.2)

Substance Violations

Possession or use of alcoholic beverages on college property, or under the influence of alcohol, on college property, or at any college sponsored event.

Use, sale, or possession on campus of, or presence on campus under the influence of, a controlled substance, narcotics, hallucinogenic drugs or substances or any hazardous substance classified as such by Section 108125 of the Health and Safety Code not possessed pursuant to a legal prescription, or any poison classified as such by Schedule D in Section 4160 of the Business and Professions Code. (CA ED Code 76033 (d))

Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the governing board.

Weapons Violations

Possession or use of any dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument on any college-owned or controlled property or at any college-sponsored or supervised function. For purposes of these guidelines, a “dangerous or deadly weapon or
instrument” includes, but is not limited to any: firearm, shotgun, rifle pistol, air rifle, BB gun, folding pocket knife with a blade longer than two and one-half inches, dirk, dagger, locking blade knife, switch blade knife; brass knuckles, blackjack, billy club, nun-chuck sticks, sling shot, tazer, stun gun, shocker, razor blade, acid, metal pipe, sharpened wood or metal trap, or any other weapon, instrument or object designed or modified to inflict physical harm on another person or animal. In the interest of
protecting students, college personnel, or campus visitors, the college retains discretion to determine what constitutes a dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument. Certain exceptions can be made for classes or college-sponsored events. Prior written authorization from the Vice President of Student Services, or designee, must be obtained before these items can be brought on campus or to a college-sponsored event.

Possession or use of replica or imitation weapons on any college owned or controlled property or at any college-sponsored or supervised function.

Possession or use of firecrackers, fireworks, pyrotechnics, or any other explosive device on any college owned or controlled property or at any college-sponsored or supervised function.